WFI Introduces New Selection Policy, Makes National Camp Mandatory For Selection Of Wrestlers

Last Updated:December 18, 2025, 15:19 IST

This policy was discussed and approved at WFI's General Council meeting during the Nationals in Ahmedabad and was later presented to SAI for feedback and review.

Wrestling Representational Image. (X)

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has introduced a new selection policy requiring wrestlers to attend national camps to be eligible for national selection. It prohibits wrestlers from training independently and mandates Olympic Games quota-winning athletes to participate in a final one-bout selection trial.

This policy was discussed and approved at WFI’s General Council meeting during the Nationals in Ahmedabad and was later presented to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for feedback and review.

“Participation in the National Coaching Camp is mandatory for all wrestlers, including elite and iconic athletes. To be eligible for the camp, a wrestler must have won a medal in the National Championship of the concerned year," the policy specifies under the sub-head National Coaching Camps.

“Once selected, wrestlers are required to train exclusively at the designated national camp. No athlete is permitted to train independently at any other venue," it adds.

This means Vinesh Phogat, who recently announced her return from retirement, must prove herself at the domestic level before being considered for a spot in the national team.

The policy clearly states that failure to attend the camp will render the wrestler “ineligible to participate in the selection trials."

Additionally, the policy includes a provision to maintain a list of reserve wrestlers, who will take on national duty in case of injury to a selected athlete.

The WFI policy insists that “past performances will not be considered for selection trials." “We are not going to give trials exemption to anyone. No athlete can sit on past achievements. In the past, few athletes had asked for exemption which is not fair to up and coming wrestlers. WFI will give equal opportunity to all," a WFI official told PTI.

To be eligible, a wrestler must have won a medal in at least one of the following competitions within the concerned year: National Championship, Federation Cup, and any other WFI-recognised competition.

The policy also states that trials are mandatory for teams representing India in major international competitions such as the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Continental Championships, and World Championships. The objective of the trials is to ensure fair opportunity, assessment of form and fitness, transparency, accountability, and merit-based representation.

The WFI emphasized that Olympic quotas are awarded to the nation and not individual athletes, and it reserves the right to conduct trials for Olympic participation. The quota winner will not compete in the initial trials but will face the winner of the trials. If he/she loses, a second chance will be given to reclaim the quota.

The selection committee will be headed by the WFI President and will include the Secretary General or Vice President, a Dronacharya/Arjuna/Dhyanchand awardee, the chief coach of the discipline, and the foreign coach.

Additionally, the chief coach can recommend barring a wrestler from trials due to indiscipline or poor attendance. The selection committee may uphold the recommendation, and WFI reserves the right to take disciplinary action against wrestlers found overweight during international competition.

Recently, WFI banned Paris Games bronze winner Aman Sehrawat for being overweight before lifting the suspension.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

News sports other-sports WFI Introduces New Selection Policy, Makes National Camp Mandatory For Selection Of Wrestlers

Read More